“I don’t think it’s affected the state’s clout as much as it’s affected his,” Diaz says. “As we all know, he shamelessly called the leader of the Republican Party a liar on the floor of the Senate.”

Other representatives, Diaz says, have made strides for the state in 2015, like Congressman Kevin Brady, who represents Texas’ 8th district.

“Brady’s got a pretty ambitious agenda when it comes to rewriting taxes,” Diaz says of the senior member of the House & Ways committee.

What you’ll hear in this segment:
– “Stocking stuffers,” or key laws Congress passed before the holidays
– Which event led the state to lose clout early in 2015
– How this year’s leadership shake-up in the House of Representatives could help Texas